Muslim NFL player penalized for praying after touchdown

A Muslim football player was penalized during Monday night’s nationally-televised game for praying after scoring a touchdown, SB Nation reported.

Officials cited Kansas City Chiefs safety Husain Abdullah for “unsportsmanlike conduct” for dropping to the ground and kneeling after scoring a touchdown against New England, as seen below:

Kansas City player Husain Abdullah prays following a touchdown on Sept. 29, 2014. [SB Nation]

According to SB Nation, Abdullah practices the traditional Muslim fast during Ramadan, even though it coincides with training camp, and missed the 2012 season so that he could take part in the Hajj to Mecca with his brother Hamza Abdullah, a former NFL player.

However, SB Nation noted that Christian players, like former Denver and New York quarterback Tim Tebow, are never penalized for gestures of worship during games, like Tebow’s habit of kneeling, which became known as “Tebowing.”

About the Author

Arturo R. García is the managing editor at Racialicious.com. He is based in San Diego, California and has written for both print and broadcast media, including contributions to GlobalComment.com, The Root and Comment Is Free. Follow him on Twitter at @ABoyNamedArt